Float operated valve

ABSTRACT

A pivotally mounted valve for closing or exposing a conduit end through which a liquid moves either from or into said conduit when the valve is in an open position. The float which is responsive to a liquid level within a receptacle with which said conduit end communicates is connected through a parallelogram and bellcrank linkage arrangement to the valve for opening or closing the valve as the liquid level rises or falls.

United States Patent [191 Bennett Nov. 4, 1975 FLOAT OPERATED VALVE [76]Inventor: David F. Bennett, 1100 Fleetwood Ave., Daytona Beach, Fla.32014 [22] Filed: May 23,1974

211 Appl. No.: 472,808

[52] US. Cl 137/445; 137/448 [51] Int, Cl. .Q F16K 31/18 [58] Field ofSearch 137/445, 448; 251/232 [56] Rer iies Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2/1 93, Emig 131/445 x 7/1940 'Murphy 1 7/44s x 2,427,359 9/1947Kucnhold 137/445 X Primary Examiner Alan Cohan Attorney, Agent, orFirm-John N. Randolph ABSTRACT A pivotally mounted valve for closing orexposing a conduit end through which a liquid moves either from I orinto said conduit when the valve is in an open position. The float whichis responsive to a liquid level within a receptacle with which saidconduit end communicates is connected through a parallelogram andbellcrank linkage arrangement to the valve for opening or closing thevalve as the liquid level rises or falls.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Shaet 1 of 33,916,945

FIG. 1

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,916,945

FIG. 2

U.S. Pltfillt Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,916,945

55." a FIG 3 FLOAT OPERATED VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION member 28which is disposed beneaththe conduit 17 In a sewage treatment plant, itis customary to pro-' to compensate for peak loads which would otherwiseoverflow the wet well and so that nearly a constant liquid level can bemaintained in the wet well.

SUMMARY.

Accordingly, one primary object of the present invention is to provide avalve structure which is uniquely adapted to function in controlling theflow of liquid from the holding tank'to the wet well and which may be soarranged that the valve will open automatically when the liquid level ofthe wet well falls to a predetermined extent and will thereafter closeautomatically when the liquid level rises to a desired maximum extent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a valvearrangement which will insure movement of the valve to an effectiveclosed position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, andwherein;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a preferred embodiment of the float operated valve;

FIG. 2 isa side elevational view of the same; 7

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of a slightlymodifiedembodiment of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another modification of the floatoperated valve; I

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodim ent of thefloat operated valve;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views illustratingdifferent arrangements of the valve of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational viewpartly brokenaway of the float operated valve of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more specifically tothe drawings and first with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conduitextends through a portion of a wall 16 which separates a holding orsurge tank from a wet well. A short length of conduit or pipe 17 iscoupled in a conventional manner as seen at 174 to the outlet end ofthe'conduit 15 and is disposed within the wet well.

A post 18 rises from the conduit 17 and provides a support for 'a fixedaxle 19. A pair of corresponding bellcranks 20 and 21 have hubs 22 attheir apexes which fit turnably on the ends of the axle 19. Saidbellcranks have arms 23 extending from the hubs 22 and terminating attheir distal ends in eyes 24 which turnably engage aligned trunnions 25which project from parallel sides 26 of a rectangular frame or yoke 27.Said sides 26 straddle the conduit 17 and are spaced therefrom. The yoke27 additionally includes a bottom cross and a detachable top crossmember 29 which is disposed thereabove. The length of the yoke 27 issubstantially greater than-the diameter of the conduit 17, as seenin.FIG S. 1 and 2. A hanger 30 depends from the conduit 17, in alignmentwith the post 18, and supports an axle 3l'which is immovably securedthereto. A'pair of levers 32, corresponding to the arms 23,- have eyes33 at corresponding ends thereof which turnably engage the'ends of theaxle 31, and eyes 34 at their oppositeends which are turnablyconnected'to a second pair of aligned trunnions 35 which are disposedbeneath and spaced from the trunnions 25, a distance corresponding tothe spacing between the axles 19 and 31 to provide a parallelogramlinkage between the conduit 17 and yoke 26.

The other arms 36 of the bellcranks 20 'and 21 project from the hubs 22at an obtuse angle to the arms 23 and have eyes 37 at their distal endswhich turnably engage end portions of a shaft 38.

A post 39 is fixed to and rises from the conduit 17, adjacent itsdischarge end 40, to support an axle 41 which is disposed parallel tothe axles 19 and 31. A pair of corresponding bellcranks 42 have hubs 43at the apex thereof which turnably engage on ends of theaxle 41.Bellcranks 42 have corresponding lever arms 44 extending upwardly fromthe hubs 43 and which terminate at their distal ends in eyes 45 whichturnably receive end portions of a shaft 46. A connecting rod 47 peredoutlet end or valve seat 40 of the conduit 17, in

a closed position of the valve 52, as seen in FIG. land in full lines ofFIG. 2. A pair of arms 54 connect immovably to the hubs 37 and extendforwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the bellcranks 42 and aredisposed at obtuse angles to the arms 36. A counterweight 55 isconnected to and supported by the free ends of the arms 54.

A socket 56 mounted on the underside of the cross member 28 receives andsupports a float rod 57 on which is slidably mounted a float 58,confined between stops 59 and 60 which are adjustably secured to the rod57. An adjustable stop 61 is secured to and depends from the upper crossbrace 29, and an adjustable stop 62' is connected to and rises from thelowercross brace In FIG. 1 and in full lines ofFIG. 2, the valve 52'i'sshown in a closed position and the float 58 is shown buoyantly supportedbetween and spaced from the stops 59 and 60. In this position of thevalve, the yoke 27 is in its uppermost position with the lower stop 62abutting the underside of the conduit 17 to limit the extent that thebellcranks 20 and 21 can be rocked-counterclockwise for pressing theplug portion 53 into the valve seat 40. The plug portion 53 is formed ofa soft material to provide a good seating engagement with the valveseat. In this position of the parts, as seen in FIG. 2,. the rod 47 isdisposed coplanar with the lever arms 7 36 to resist any tendenc y forthe valve 52 to be forced 3 away from the valve seat 40 and to rock thebellcranks 42 in a clockwise direction.

As the liquid level, not shown, in which the float 58 is supportedfalls, said float will slide down the rod 57 and come to rest on thelower stop 60. As the weight of the float 58 is substantial, when asufficient preponderance of such weight is supported by the stop 60 androd 57, said rod and the yoke 27 will be pulled downwardly for swingingthe bellcranks 20 and 21 and the levers 32 from their full line to theirdotted line positions of FIG. 2, along with the yoke 27. This downwardmovement of the aforementioned parts will continue until the upper stop61 engages the seat 63 on the upper side of the conduit 17 to preventfurther downward movement of the parts. It will be apparent that theyoke 27 and rod 57 will maintain the same, substantially vertical planeduring movement of said parts between their full and dotted linepositions.

As the bellcranks 20 and 21 swing clockwise from their full to theirdotted line positions of FIG. 2, the lever arms 36 thereof will move tosubstantially upright positions and, in so doing, will exert a pull onthe con necting rod 47 for swinging the bellcranks 42 clockwise as aunit from their full to their dotted line positions to move the valve 52to its open, dotted line position, to allow the liquid or raw sewage toflow through the outlet end'40 of the conduit 17 into the wet wellreceptacle in which said conduit 17 is disposed. Additionally, as thebellcranks 20 and 21 swing from their full line to their dotted linepositions, the arms 54 and counterweight 55 will swing upwardly fromtheir full line to their dottedline positions of FIG. 2. During thismovement the counterweight 55 passes across the vertical plane passingthrough the pivot axis 42, so that in its dotted line position,counterweight 55 cooperates with the float 58 for maintaining the valve52 in an open position. However, the weight of the float 58 is adequateto overcome the weight 55 for moving the parts from their full line totheir dotted line positions.

When the liquid level rises sufficiently, the float 58 will becomebuoyantly supported and will move upwardly on the rod 57 against theupper stop 59. When said float is sufficiently buoyant, it will forcethe rod 57 and yoke 27 upwardly for moving the parts back from theirdotted line to their full line positions of FIG. 2. During this initialmovement, counterweight 55 will pass back across the vertical plane ofthe axis 41, after which said counterweight will assist in returning theparts to their full line positions and this assistance will increase asits leverage force is enhanced by movement of the weight 55 away fromthe vertical plane of the pivot axis 41. Thus, the counterweight 55 willassist the float 58 in moving the valve 52 to a fully closed positionfor sealing the outlet 40. As the valve 52 reaches a full closedposition, the collar 48 will come to rest against the post 39, as seenin FIG. 1, to prevent the levers 36 from moving past a position coplanarwith the rod 47. Also, as the parts reach their full line positions, thelower top 62 will move into abutting engagement with an abutment 64 onthe underside of the conduit 17.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slight modification of the float operated valve ofFIGS. 1 and 2, and wherein crank arms 36 are shortened, rod 47 islengthened, and arms 54 supporting weight 55', extend from the hubs 45rather than hubs 37. The adjustable stop 62 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1and 2 is replaced by an adjustable stop 62' which rises from the conduit17 and is engaged by the hubs 37 when the valve 52 is in a closedposition.

4 The structure and operation of the valve of FIG. 3 otherwisecorresponds with the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the float operated valve whichdiffers only slightly from the embodiment as previously described. Inthe float operated valve of FIG. 4, designated generally 65, the yoke 27is replaced by a U-shaped yoke 66 which has no top cross brace and whichdoes not include adjustable stops 6 and 62. The conduit 67 whichcorresponds to conduit 17, supportsan adjustable stop 68 which risestherefrom and which is engaged by a collar 69, corresponding to thecollar 48, in the closed position of the valve 70.

Counterweights 71 are supported on the distal ends of the lever arms 72of the bellcranks 73, which replace the bellcranks 42. Thecounterweights 71, like the counterweight 55 but unlike thecounterweight 55', are

capable of swinging across a vertical plane passing through the pivotaxis 74 to assist the float 75 in moving the valve 70 to a fully open orfully closed position. Operation of the valve 65"otherwise correspondswith the operation of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2. I

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the float operated valve.The float operated valve of these views, designated generally 76,includes a conduit 77 replacing the conduit 17 and having an open end 78which is convexly rounded, as best'seen in FIG. 9, and which is outlinedby an O-ring 79 forming a yieldable valve seat. I

A valve member 82, composed of spaced apart substantially parallel sidemembers 83 and an intermediate valve face portion 84, is swingablysupported by distal portions of the sides 83 turnably engaging trunnions81 which project from opposite sides of the conduit77. counterweightsare secured to the sides 83 and turn on trunnions 81. The valve face84is shaped so that the inner face thereof is capable of moving intoflush sealing engagement with the seat 78 as the valve 82 swingsdownwardly from its open portion of FIGS. 5 and 9 An inverted U-shapedyoke 85 includes spaced apart legs 86 which straddle the valve membersides 83 and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to trunnions 87which project outwardly from said sides 83. Posts 88 rise from theconduit 77. Rigid links 89 are pivoted at 90 to aligned pivots of theposts 88 and at 91 to aligned pivots on upper portions of the legs 86.The pivots 81 and 90 are disposed in the same vertical planes as are thepivots 87 and 91, and the spacing between the pivots 81 and 87correspond with the spacing between the pivots 90 and 91, so that theportions of the sides 83 disposed between the pivots 81 and 87constitute an additional pair of rigid links to form with links 89 aparallelogram, like the parallelogram linkage of FIGS. 1 to 4.

A rod 92 is secured to and extends upwardly from the top portion 93 ofthe yoke 85 and slidably supports a float 94 between stops 95 and 96,which are adjustably secured to said rod.

The conduit 77 is disposed in a submerged position and the float 94 isshown buoyantly supported in FIG. 5. When the level of the liquidsupporting the float 94 drops to a predetermined extent, said float willstrike the lower stop 95 to force the rod 92 downwardly together withthe yoke 85 for swinging the links 89 and the valve member 82 downwardlyin a clockwise direction for moving the valve face 84 into sealingengagement with the valve seat 79. The valve face 84 in moving to aclosed position follows the path indicated by the broken lines 97 sothat said valve face moves downwardly and inwardly with respect to thevalve seat 79 which is inclined upwardly and inwardly relative to theaxis of the conduit 77. Conversely, when the liquid level risessufficiently to move the float 94 upwardly against the upper stop 96,the valve member 82 will swing upwardly to its open position of FIGS. 5and 9. During this movement, the valve face 84 moves not only upwardlybut outwardly and away from the valve seat 79.

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the float 94, and stops 95 and 96 have beenomitted. The remaining parts correspond to the similarity numbered partsof FIGS. 5 and 9. However, in FIG. 6, conduit member 77 has been rotated180, so that its opening 78 is inclined downwardly and inwardly, and thevalve member 82 swing upwardly to a closed position. Thus, when theliquid level rises, the valve is pulled by the float to a closedposition and is caused to open by the weight of the float as the liquidlevel falls.

In FIG. 7, the conduit 77 and valve member 82 are disposed in the sameposition as in FIGS. 5 and 9. However, the supports 88 are located belowthe conduit 77 and the yoke 85 extends downwardly from the pivots 87.With this arrangement of the parts, the conduit 77 is disposed above thewater level. The weight of the float pulling downwardly on the rod 92swings the valve member 82 downwardly to a closed position and the riseof the water level lifts the float and rod 92 for opening the valve.

In FIG. 8, conduit 77 and valve member 82 are disposed as in FIG. 6;however, the posts 88 and yoke 85 are disposed as in FIG. 7, so that arising liquid level causes the float to exert an upper thrust on the rod92 for swinging the valve member 82 upwardly to a closed position and afalling liquid level causes the weight of the float to pull the rod 92and yoke 85 downwardly for opening the valve. In the arrangement of FIG.8, conduit 77 is disposed above the liquid level, as in FIG. 7.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may beresorted to, without departing from the function or scope of theinvention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A float operated valve comprising a conduit having an open enddefining a valve seat, a valve, means swingably supporting said valvefor movement into and out of engagement with said valve seat, a liquidlevel responsive float, means including a parallelogram linkage systemconnecting said float to the valve whereby an up or down movement of thefloat will produce a swinging movement of the valve into or out ofengagement with said valve seat, said parallelogram linkage systemincluding a pair of rigid links, means pivotally supportingcorresponding ends of said links on said conduit, means connected tosaid float and to which the opposite ends of said links are pivotallyconnected in spaced apart relation to one another such that said linksare disposed parallel to one another, one of said links comprising anarm of a bellcrank, said means swingably supporting the valve includinga second bellcrank having one arm connected to and supporting the valve,and a rod connecting the other arm of the first mentioned bellcrank tothe other arm of said second bellcrank for causing said bellcranks toswing in unison about parallel axes in response to up and down movementof the float.

2. A float operated valve as in claim 1, an arm fixed to and extendingfrom the distal end of the last mentioned arm of said first mentionedbellcrank, and a counterweight supported by said arm and disposed beyondsaid second bellcrank in the closed position of the valve.

3. A flat operated valve as in claim 2, said counterweight beingsupported to swing across a vertical plane intersecting the axis of thesecond bellcrank during movement of the valve between a closed and openposition to assist in moving and maintaining the valve in either a fullyclosed or fully open position.

4. A float operated valve as in claim 1, a rigid arm fixed to andextending from the distal end of the last mentioned arm of the secondbellcrank and in a direction away from said first mentioned bellcrank,and a weight secured to the outer end of said last mentioned arm.

5. A float operated valve as in claim 1, and a counterweight supportedon the distal end of the last mentioned arm of the second bellcrank forswinging movement across a vertical plane intersecting the pivot axis ofthe second bellcrank, during swinging movement of the valve between anopen and closed position for cooperating with the float in maintainingthe valve in either a fully open or fully closed position.

6'. A float operated valve as in claim 2, said valve comprising a plugvalve and being receivable in said open end of the conduit in a closedposition of the valve.

1. A float operated valve comprising a conduit having an open enddefining a valve seat, a valve, means swingably supporting said valvefor movement into and out of engagement with said valve seat, a liquidlevel responsive float, means including a parallelogram linkage systemconnecting said float to the valve whereby an up or down movement of thefloat will produce a swinging movement of the valve into or out ofengagement with said valve seat, said parallelogram linkage systemincluding a pair of rigid links, means pivotally supportingcorresponding ends of said links on said conduit, means connected tosaid float and to which the opposite ends of said links are pivotallyconnected in spaced apart relation to one another such that said linksare disposed parallel to one another, one of said links comprising anarm of a bellcrank, said means swingably supporting the valve includinga second bellcrank having one arm connected to and supporting the valve,and a rod connecting the other arm of the first mentioned bellcrank tothe other arm of said second bellcrank for causing said bellcranks toswing in unison about parallel axes in response to up and down movementof the float.
 2. A float operated valve as in claim 1, an arm fixed toand extending from the distal end of the last mentioned arm of saidfirst mentioned bellcrank, and a counterweight supported by said arm anddisposed beyond said second bellcrank in the closed position of thevalve.
 3. A flat operated valve as in claim 2, said counterweight beingsupported to swing across a vertical plane intersecting the axis of thesecond bellcrank during movement of the valve between a closed and openposition to assist in moving and maintaining the valve in either a fullyclosed or fully open position.
 4. A float operated valve as in claim 1,a rigid arm fixed to and extending from the distal end of the lastmentioned arm of the second bellcrank and in a direction away from saidfirst mentioned bellcrank, and a weight secured to the outer end of saidlast mentioned arm.
 5. A float operated valve as in claim 1, and acounterweight supported on the distal end of the last mentioned arm ofthe second bellcrank for swinging movement across a vertical planeintersecting the pivot axis of the second bellcrank, during swingingmovement of the valve between an open and closed position forcooperating with the float in maintaining the valve in either a fullyopen or fully closed position.
 6. A float operated valve as in claim 2,said valve comprising a plug valve and being receivable in said open endof the conduit in a closed position of the valve.